Spring for chair-backs and the like



E. E. GRAFF AND C. M. FISHER. SPRING FOR cum BACKS AND THE LIKEAPPLICATION FILED MAR. 3, 1920.

Patented Oct. 18, 1921.

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attoMw/go UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWIN E. GRAFF AND CHARLES M. FISHER, OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA.

SPRING FOR CHAIR-BACKS AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Iatent.

Patented Oct. 18, 1921.

Application filed March 3, 1920; Serial No. 363,037.

T all whom it may concern. 7

Be it known that we, EDWIN E. GRAFF and CHARLES M. FIST-Inn, citizens ofthe United States, residing at South Bend, in

the county of St. Joseph, Stateof Indiana, have invented a new anduseful Spring for Chair-Backs and the like, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to a spring structure for use in the backs ofautomobile chairs and the like, one of the objects being to make adeviceof this character out of spring wire interwoven in a novel manner andarranged in connected widths, whereby the said structure will give underthe pressure of the back of the user and provide a comfortable,efficient and inexpensive rest which will adapt itself to the contoursof the body, and materially reduce the amount of hair required in themanufacture of the back of the seat.

A further object is to provide a structure of this type which will avoidfriction by moving up and down with the back, when jolted, and willpress outward to resist pres-. sure.

lVith the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details ofconstruction and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter morefully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood thatvarious changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of theparts without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of theadvantages of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings- Figure 1 is a rear elevation of a portionof a chair back having the present improvements.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the back.

Fig. 3 is a section on line 33, Fig. 2.

Fig. 4: is an enlarged detail View of a portion of the spring.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference 1 designates astrand of hea spring wire which is combined with another similar strand2 to form one of the units of the spring. Each unit is made by twistingthe two strands together at regular intervals, as shown at 3 thus toform diamond shaped openings, each strand being provided, at the sidesof said openings, with coils or eyes at. Each strand extends from one ofthe twisted portions 3 to one of the eyes 4, thence through the nexttwisted portion 3 and then across the spring to the eye 4: at theopposite side thereof. The Strand is then brought back in the samemanner to the other side of the spring. The eyes along the two sides ofthe spring units are engaged by hooks 5 formed by bending alternateangle portions of a Zigzag wire 6, this wire being formed of a springmetal. The said wire 6, which constitutes attaching means, are locatedalong both sides of each spring unit.

An automobile chair back or the like embodying the presentimprovementprovided with a back frame 7 of suitable rigid material,preferably of strips of metal and extending from this frame are teeth orprojections 8. The spring units are adapted to be placed side by sideupon the back of a pad 9 which can be upholstered in any manner desired,the wire 6 being attached to the back surface of this pad by means ofthreads 10 or the like and the said wire 6 interfitting as shownparticularly in Fig. 1. After the parts have thus been assembled thespring units are bulged forwardly and the ends thereof placed inengagement with the teeth or prongs 8, thus holding the pad 9 pressedoutwardly along curved lines as indicated particularly in Fig. 2. Thesespring units are of suflicient strength to properly supportthe back ofthe user and will, at the same time, yield in any direction to conformto the contours of the back, thereby providing a comfortable rest. By

7 bulging the spring forwardly as shown the back sufliciently stiifensand at the same time is free to move up and downwardly with the bodyshould the seat be jolted. The spring units are not connected to eachother but, instead, are secured to the wires 6 which, in turn, arefastened. to the pad, the wires on the two units interfitting as shownin Fig. 1. Thus the desired transverse flexibility of the back isobtained in addition to longitudinal flexibilit What is claimed is:

1. A back cushion for automobile chairs and the like comprising a backstructure, parallel spring units having their ends inturned and securedto the upper and lower portions of the back structure, said units beingbulged outwardly from the structure, each unit including crossed zigzagwires twisted together at their points of intersection and having eyesat their side angles,

' zigzag attaching wires having hooked portions extending into the eyes,a pad extending over the spring units, and means for connecting thezigzag wires to the back surface of the pad.

2. A spring cushion for seat backs including parallel spring units eachconsisting of crossed spring wires twisted together at their points ofcrossing and having eyes at the side extremities or angles of the unit,

spring attaching wires movably engaging] the eyes, a pad secured to theattaching EDWIN EIGRAFF,

CHARLES H; FISHER.

lVitnesses: i

DALLAsA. SHIRE, VINCENT Hunzmsnr.

